Dáil Éireann Debate, Wednesday - 9 March 2022
93. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs if he plans to follow the example of governments (details supplied) and recognise the genocide of Uyghur Muslims by the Chinese government [13261/22]
Amharc ar fhreagra94. Deputy Peadar Tóibín asked the Minister for Foreign Affairs his views on the findings of the Independent Uyghur Tribunal published in its final judgement in December 2021; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13262/22]
Amharc ar fhreagraI propose to take Questions Nos. 93 and 94 together.
The Government position regarding the situation in Xinjiang, and, more recently, regarding the findings of the Uyghur People’s Tribunal, were set out in the Seanad on 1 December 2021 and on 9 February 2022.
Ireland remains deeply concerned about the evidence-based reports of human rights violations and abuses in Xinjiang. We have raised these concerns, along with our partners in the EU and the wider international community, on a number of occasions. I also raised these issues directly with my Chinese counterpart, State Councillor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a visit to China in May 2021.
Ireland has consistently called on China to allow unrestricted and meaningful access to the region for independent observers, including the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, and we note that some progress has been made towards a visit of the High Commissioner. We look forward to the High Commissioner’s report on human rights in Xinjiang.
Ireland’s approach regarding Xinjiang has been to cooperate with like-minded states through the multilateral system to demand progress on this issue. At the 48th UN Human Rights Council in September 2021, Ireland joined an EU Group Statement, which called on China to comply with its obligations under national and international law to respect and protect human rights, including in Xinjiang.
In October 2021, Ireland joined a cross-regional statement on the situation in Xinjiang, delivered at the Third Committee of the 76th UN General Assembly. The statement calls attention to the arbitrary detention of over a million people in Xinjiang and the “systematic human rights violations, including reports documenting torture or cruel, inhuman and degrading treatment or punishment.”
The EU has also initiated sanctions under the Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime against four Chinese persons and one entity for their role in Xinjiang. These sanctions are designed to act as a deterrent and encourage changes in these actors’ behaviour. Sanctions are based on solid legal evidence and are deployed alongside other measures, including dialogue.
My Department has studied the report by the Uyghur People’s Tribunal in detail. Officials in the Department of Foreign Affairs met in person with representatives of the World Uyghur Congress following the publication of the report. This report is a further contribution to our understanding of the situation in Xinjiang. While the ‘Uyghur’s People’s Tribunal’ is not a judicial body with the authority to issue judgments on matters concerning international law, I recognise the significant work undertaken by its authors, including in collating reports from a number of different sources.
I am aware of the US Government’s finding that genocide and crimes against humanity occurred against the predominantly Muslim Uyghurs and other ethnic and religious minority groups in Xinjiang. The term ‘genocide’ has a particular meaning under international law. Recognition of events definitively as genocide involves an analysis of both facts and law. Ireland follows the practice of recognising genocide only where this has been established by a final decision of a court in Ireland, or by a final judgment of an international court, or where there is international consensus on the matter. Such a final judgement has not taken place and international consensus has not been reached to date.
This in no way undermines the seriousness with which the Government approaches the situation in Xinjiang, or our commitment to pursue this matter and seek better protection of human rights for the Uyghur people. The protection and promotion of human rights is a core pillar of Ireland's foreign policy, and Ireland will continue to monitor and assess the situation and, along with our EU partners, engage with Chinese authorities bilaterally and in multilateral fora to address our concerns.
